It’s the day after the game, and Head Coach Mike Shanahan has watched the tape of Denver’s 23-20 overtime win over the Oakland Raiders. Beginning at 1:30 p.m. MDT, I’ll be live-blogging his press conference. Stay tuned, and click here to watch the live video stream.
1:29 P.M. MDT: The coach arrives one minute early.
1:30 P.M. MDT: On the offensive production: “You look at why you didn’t put up more points. It’s pretty easy. We had two opportunities down there with touchdowns called back. One we overcame, one we didn’t … If you move the football like we did, eventually, points are going to come. … If you’re averaging 400-something yards a game — and normally 375 leads (the league), you’re doing pretty good … We’ve got some work to do, but on the positive side, we’re doing some good things.”
1:31 P.M. MDT: On Travis Henry: “He hasn’t really exceeded my expectations because when I looked at him at Tennessee last year, you could see him do that pretty consistently … You’re just hoping that he can hang onto the football … and that as the game goes on he can stay halfway fresh.”
1:32 P.M. MDT: Speaks of Selvin Young spelling Henry from time to time; believes that can help Henry stay fresh.
1:33 P.M. MDT: On Brandon Marshall: “The thing I noticed is how he dominated in the running game … He’s doing a great job in run support.”
1:34 P.M. MDT: “Some guys shy away from blocking; that’s just their nature. Then you have some guys that love contact. He was a free safety for a year at Central Florida; he’s a hitter; he doesn’t shy away from contact as you saw a week earlier against Buffalo … You can see he enjoys it, and it really helps your running back get some big yards.”
1:35 P.M. MDT: Can the offense be as good as past Broncos offenses that were among the league’s elite? “That’s what we’re hoping for,” Shanahan said, subsequently reciting all the changes the offensive lineup went through this offseason.
1:35 P.M. MDT: Says Javon Walker is playing with a lot more confidence now that he’s another year removed from the torn ACL suffered in 2005.
1:36 P.M. MDT: On receivers going over the middle: “If you don’t go over the middle, you won’t be in the National Football League very long — certainly not on this team.”
1:36 P.M. MDT: Says Daniel Graham “had one of the best tight end demonstrations I’ve seen in a long time.” Graham seemed to be everywhere on run plays and in downfield blocking for his fellow pass-catchers.
1:37 P.M. MDT: Talks about Selvin Young, says he’s “like a third- or fourth-year guy; nothing seems to faze him … I can see him as a starter. He is a starter in this league.”
1:38 P.M. MDT: On calling the timeout on Janikowski’s kick: “I watched him kick before the game started and he was making them from 70 yards … just a gut (feeling to call the timeout.”
1:39 P.M. MDT: On Travis Henry’s ankle: “I think he’s okay. I think it was worse last week than this week.” … Also says that there is no news on Ben Hamilton’s recovery from a concussion.
1:41 P.M. MDT: Says he has no concerns about Jason Elam’s three missed field goals in the last two weeks.
1:42 P.M. MDT: Says that if the coaches could not call timeout from the sideline — as is now permitted this year — one of the players would have called it on the field. “Obviously with the current rules it’s very easy for me to tell the official we’re going to call timeout right before (the snap).” … “We’ve done it before the same way.”
1:43 P.M. MDT: The split-second decisions in the end-game situation “comes from time. You’ve screwed it up so many times eventually you’re going to get it right … You still screw up enough to where you second-guess yourself, so it doesn’t always work out.”
1:44 P.M. MDT: “We’ve got to get a lot better stopping the run … We can get better. That’s what’s encouraging. It’s not like guys are getting beat … (but) we weren’t at the top of our game in run defense. We were at the top of our game in pass defense; that’s obvious.”
1:45 P.M. MDT: Said he was “surprised” by how thoroughly New England defeated San Diego on Sunday night. “(The Patriots) have got some weapons on offense.”
1:46 P.M. MDT: Said that Stephen Alexander is back on the team, and that the team has already released Chad Mustard. “Hopefully nobody signs him and we have that luxury (of bringing back Mustard).”
1:46 P.M. MDT: Said that he hopes rookie offensive tackle Ryan Harris will be available to practice next week.
1:47 P.M. MDT: “Let’s not get carried away,” Shanahan said, answering a question about the defense struggling to adjust to the new scheme. “How many points did we give up?”
1:48 P.M. MDT: Admitted that he “really didn’t” think the Raiders would play Josh McCown, who was injured during their season opener against Detroit.
1:49 P.M. MDT: And … we’re done.
Tags: Mike Shanahan
I kinda feel bad for Mustard , I know its all business but still Mike sure can juggle people. He seems to get the job done though.
Hey Andrew,
So first of All Shoate played much better, I made it a point to watch his coverage. For the first time I feel Jay was a little worried during the 3 and out dirve at the end of the fourth, but he still played well dispite him seeming on edge. What do you think about the progress of the draft picks on DL? I think they are getting better all the time. We have our hardest part of the season coming up here, but the Indy game really sticks out. Do you think Payton is going to be able to attack out D like others (with the pass)? I would also like to say Dre’ did a good job of coming back after that TD pass, McColown thought he could keep going to that side…
Sorry I meant to say McClown (because he is a joke)… I am glad they havent risked it on Dante for our sake.
Yeah, the defense has to play much, MUCH better against the run. Otherwise, L. T.’s “break out” game of this season….. will come against us, AT HOME, in Week 5. It might be two weeks in a row we get torched by the run, because Peyton may not bother throwing it, and just keep handing it off to Addai. We got one more week to prepare, and then it’s all business, SERIOUS business for two straight weeks.
http://www.freewebs.com/jaredsnflpicks
Good to see that Coach has Elam’s back. He is the best clutch kicker in the NFL in my opinon, not to mention that he made up for all of the misses by kickin a fantastic last-second (almost had a heart attack watching it) kick last week and then sealed the deal at the end of the 4th to take it to OT yesterday. That chip shot at the end in OT he probably did with his eyes closed.
Elams the man..always will be.
I don’t feel great about our run defense, but the lack of passing D has been our problem for quite a while. I am betting that the run D will show up when we play the Chargers and spend time focusing the scheme on stopping it. Felt pretty good to see us listed in top 5 in almost every category on offense and defense, but it didn’t stop the jokes from my co-workers about us barely beating the lowly Raiders. 2-0 is still 2-0, lets take care of business against the Jags and get ready for our big test in week 4.
We need to try going deep more often when we hit midfield keep the d back on its heels…cutler is good for it…did some hot stuff last year….dink and dunk and some henry up to mid field and BAM walker, marshall, or stokely hits you in the mouth…yeah baby thats what im talkin about.
I personally think that this the most talented team from top to bottom that we have seen since the super bowl years and its only going to get better. WE got more sacks this week, let up one big play on defense, and the offense is moving the ball with ease. I think Jay is going to continue learn, hey at least he gets it done on 3rd down. To all of those worried out there, just be patient. Hey were winning and thats all that matters.
There are so many positives from this team, with the exception of the scoreboard. We are killing teams in the statistical categories, the guys just need to put it together in the red zone. I think they will. Being a young team, I think they get a little amp’d up and try a little to hard. When they get more comfortable, WATCH OUT. This team has something we haven’t seen in the JAKE PLUMBER Era. They are flying around the field and making things happen. The offense is playing harder than ever, and they believe in JAY CUTLER. His arm strength is tremendous. Kinda reminds me of somebody. (ELWAY). Jay’s taken control of this team, and they are following his lead. Give this team time and they will be a dominate force, and we will all be smiling, all the way to the Super-Bowl!!! I was one of the harshest critics on the defense. I see them getting better and better, week after week. I think we need more Dumerville, Rice, & Moss. Their speed is important to defend against the roll-out quarter backs. Engleberger is far to slow. This week will be a big test. I just hope it all clicks this week. My heart can’t handle another game like the previous two. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
What a crazy start to another season. Very excited about our team this season. It will take 2 outstanding corners to beat the colts and patriots in which we have. Forget the chargers because I am the only person who said they will not even make the playoffs. They are a 2 man team and if you stop LT and gates you will spank them.( Can you name 1 receiver on their team? Didnt think so.) As long as we continue to improve we should be a force at the end of the season. Remember its the team that plays the best at the end not the begining that wins it all. Go Broncos!!!!
Believe it or not, I was actually more worried about us playing the raiders this past weekend than I was worried about us having to have INDY and SD two weeks in a row. I think this is the year for us against INDY, We have two elite corners to cover their two stud recievers; in addition, we actually have a pass rush to get to Peyton. By the looks of things, we can move the ball just as well as they can; the only concern is, can we put it into the end zone when it really matters?
Sports Illustrated
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting